MANGOLD " LEAF-BLISTER BIAGGOT. 



85 



magnified, with the Ufe size given beneath it, and also life size in the 

 leaf. 



In summer the small two-winged ashy-grey Mangold Flies (figured, 

 magnified, at p. 83, showing the darker markings, and black bristly 

 hairs) come out in about a fortnight, so that there may be a succession 

 of broods throughout all the warm weather. The white, oval, or 

 somewhat spindle-shaped eggs of the fly are laid in patches beneath 

 the leaves. 



Though this attack has often been entered on before, some few of 

 the notes sent in regarding it during the past season may be of interest 

 in showing the serious nature of the attack, and how much a better 

 knowledge of its characteristics is in some districts still needed, in 

 order that remedial measures might at once be brouglit to bear. 



On the 6th of June, Mr. J. H. Hine, writing from Pamphlett Farm, 

 Plymstock, Devon, remarked: — " I am sending you a sample of my 

 young Mangold plants with a maggot in them doing serious damage, 

 destroying many plants altogether. Would you be kind enough to 

 send me a remedy (if any) at once. 



" I find from most farmers in this neighbourhood that they are 

 sufifering the same as myself." 



On the following day (June 7th), Mr. E. Templeton, writing from 

 Blackweir Home Farm, Cardiff, S. Wales, observed : — " I find that 

 our Mangold is infested with the grub in the leaves, which is doing 

 very great damage to them ; I am afraid they are going to destroy the 

 crops altogether. I have heard several farmers in this district com- 

 plaining about their crops, and saying they were like as if they were 

 frost-bitten ; but J expect that if they look carefully, they will find that 

 it is the grub that is doing all the mischief. I would feel very much 

 obliged if you could give any information how to destroy the pest." 



On June 8th, Mr. W. Campin, writing from Lanes Farm, Woolley, 

 Keadiug, also noticed the attack, being at first mistaken for frost-bite. 

 He mentioned : — " My Mangolds are eaten off by some grub. We at 

 first thought it was the effects of frost ; on closer examination I find 

 a small grub inside the leaf, and have enclosed two leaves for your 

 inspection. Can you kindly inform me the cause of this destructive 

 pest?" 



On the 9th of June, Mr. Thos. Olver, wrote to me from Truro, 

 Cornwall, as follows : — " I happened to be on a farm near this place 

 to-day, when the occupier told me that he had a disease of some kind 

 among his Mangold plants, so I went with him into the field, and had 

 no difficulty in finding a large number of plants affected similar to the 

 enclosed." . . . "If you would kindly give me some information 

 as to the cause and prevention, I should deem it a favour." 



Still taking one of the reports received on successive days, the 



